Locomotive-front-end support



May 10, 1927.

H. wsszame Y LOCOMOTIVE FRONT END SUPPORT Filed July 16,- 1924 4Sheets-Shoat 1 A- Mr my, a n w y f H. VISSERING LOCOMOTIVE FRONT ENDSUPPORT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1924 May 10 1927.

H. VISSERING I LOCOMOTIVE FRONT END SUPPORT Filed July 16. 1924 4Sheets-Sheet S H. VISSERING LOCO IOTIVE FRONT END SUPPORT Filed July 16.1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 10, 1927.

unirsn srarss PATENT OFFICE,

IIABRY VISSE'EING, OF KENILWORl'I-I, ILLINOIS, ASSIG'NOR TO THE OKAZDEE00M- lANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A 'GOBPORATIO'N OF ILLINOIS.

LOGOMOTIVE-FRONT-END SUPPORT.

Application filed July 16, 1924. Serial No. 726,334.

This invention relates generally to closure supports. and particularlyto a support for the type of closure used in boilers of railwaylocomotives, and conm'ionly termed the front end, as it is the plate forforming the forward :QllCl of the :boiler.

This closure plate for the front end of a boiler is large and extremelyheavy, and according to approved railway practice, is secured to theboiler front end by a great number of stud bolts and nuts.circinnferentially arranged adjacent the outer edge of the front endplate. To make the joint between the boiler front and front end plateabsolutely tight against leakage, the nuts are turned down as closely:as possible. l/Vhen it is desired to remove the front end plate toreach the inside of the boiler shell, the nuts are all removed and thefront end plate moved away from the boiler shell. To loosen this frontend plate and move it away from the boiler .shell is rendered extremelydifficult, as there is a tendency for the front end plates to stick, dueto the rusting of the arts and the action of the elements aside from thefactor of its great weight.

Still another difficulty encountered in the removal of the front endplate, is that its weight is such, the more so when auxiliary apparatusis SLIIJPOPlGCl thereby, that a crane and tackle. or the like, is foundnecessary to carry the weight of the parts assoon as they are moved awayfrom their positions of sup port by the boiler. This necessitates thatthe engine be moved to a spot where such crane and tackle are at hand. Y

Again, in the development of modern rail way practice it has been foundnecessary, owing to the increased size of the boilers and the cylinders,and the limitations on the size of locomotive structures imposed bystation platforms, tunnels, bridges, and other structures adjacent tothe right of way, to mount certain structures, which it has heretoforebeen possible to support at the side of the locomotive, on the front ofthe locomotive and most conveniently to supportthem on such front end,such structures being. for example, certain air cylinders and compressorpumps. These structures being carried on the front end add furthercomplications and difliculties and render access to the inside of theboiler shell even more inconvenient and expensive.

Furthermore, when an attachment in the form of a hinge structure hasbeen used me for the support of the front end, and such supern-umerarystructures vas the cylinders and pumps referred to are applied to suchfront end, such arrangement has been found objectionable inasmuch as :agreat deal of weight is carried at a distance from the pivotal axis ofthe hinge structure, and upon removal of the nuts and the front endstructure from the stud bolts, there has been marked canting andconsequent binding of the front end, owing to the increased tend-- encythereof to swing downward about the lower hinge structure as an axis.

The principal objects of this invention, therefore, are to provide animproved at" range-merit whereby the front end plate and any associatedparts can be moved away from the boiler front without the presentvexpenditures required under existing practice; the provision of animproved mounting between the front end plate and boiler plate now inuse generally, which will permit of the employment of a pivotedconnection be tween such front end plate and boiler front withoutintolerable interference therewith by structures carried by thelocomotive-at the front of such front end plate and which will stillpermit the employment of such additional structures in their desiredrelationships; the provision of an improved construction by which suchsupplemental structures may be moved laterally away from the boilerfront without at the same time detachi-n-g therefrom; the provision ofan improved construction whereby such supplemental structures may bemoved awa. from the boiler front and the front en plate without at thesame time detaching them from the boiler front; the provision of .animproved construction whereby all the several structures mounted at theboiler front may be moved from their position of support thereby withoutdetachment therefrom; the provision of a novel arrangement which permitsthe several structures carried at the front of the boiler to be swungaside relatively t0 the boiler front so as to permit free access to theboiler interior without at the same time withdrawing them from theirpositions of support by the boiler; the provision of improved meanswhereby this may be accomplished without at the same time detaching themfrom the boiler; the provision of improved means whereby the severalelements referred to may be secured tr. the boiler front by an improvedarrangement of stud bolts and nuts circun'iferentially arranged adjacentto the outer edge of the front end plate, characterized by the fact thatsuch removal may be readily accom plished, and further characterized bythe fact that the front end plate may be swung laterally to permitaccess to the boiler front without straining such supporting means; theprovision of an improved arrangei'nent of supporting means wherebyelements carried at the front of a boiler may be securely detaehablysupported thereby; together with such further additional objects as mayhereinafter be pointed out or appear as this description proceeds.

In attaining the objects referred to and in gaining certain additionalbenefits and advantages to be below disclosed, I have embodied certainconstructions embodying my present invention, which are illustrated inthe accompanying drawing. wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevationul view of a locomotive front embodying oneexemplification of my present invention, wherein the closure is shown inclosed position and certain associated parts are projected forwardly;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the structure of Figures 1 and 2, a positionassumed by certain of the elements upon movement from the position shownin full lines being indi cated in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the locomotive front embodyinganother eXemplificat-ion of my present improvements, where the closureis shown in closed position and certain associated parts are carried inparallelism with the front end;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the structure of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 5; and

Figure 7 is a plan view showing the position assumed by certain partsillustrated in Figure 6, when they are moved from the position shown insuch figure.

As will be observed on viewing the drawings, the boiler shell 10 and thefront end closure plate 11 are held rigidly and tightly together inservice condition by means of a row of bolts and nuts 12. This row isgenerally circular but when it is desired to support some element suchas an air cylinder thereon, which element is not conveniently removabletherefrom, a longitudinally split plate and a supplemental line of boltsmay be employed as indicated at 12 As these parts are all exposed to theelements, the front end plate will tend to stick to the stud bolts andthe boiler front, and it is extremely difficult to pry the front endplate loose from the boiler plate and handle it without elaboratetackle.

Furthermore, when it is pried loose special provision must be made tosupport the end of the front plate and move it away from the boileropening so as to reach the boiler interior.

This is more marked when heavy structures such as the compressor pumps Aand A are supported by the front end plate. Such a structure as the pumpA does not offer so much difiiculty as does the pump A inasmuch as thepump A is located closely adjacent to the axis of the hinge structures,but the pump A. is found in practice to place an almost intolerableburden upon the hinge structures inasmuch as the pump A is not only ofgreat weight per se but is also located at a relatively great distancefrom the hinge structures and consequently exercises a very markedtorque upon them.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in Figures 1 to 3, it will be observed that in the structurehere shown the boiler front 11 has associated therewith two sets ofhinge structures, indicated generally at B, B. disposed on the oppositesides of the boiler.

These structures B, B serve to support the pumps A, r and in the presentembodiment of the invention such support is attained by the employmentof forwardly projecting bracket portions C, C, formed on the hingestructures B, B.

The hinge structure B serves not onlyto support the pump A- but also tosupport the front end closure 11 when the latter is moved from itssupports by the row of stud bolts 12, the hinge and the closure beingdctachably connected by the several bolts and nuts indicated at 12*.

The hinge structure B as will presently appear is adapted not only topermit pivotal movement of the closure 11, but also to permit bodilymovement of the closure forwardly from the boiler front 10, upon thebolts 12.

The hinge structure B serves to support the pump A and in turn isnormally but de tachably fixed to the front end closure 11 by means ofthe bolts and nuts 12, 12". The purpose of this arrangement of the hingeB is to securely support the pump A but to permit it to be swung asidefrom the closure 11, upon removal of the nuts from the bolts 12, thusclearing the path of movement of the closure 11 and assoc ated partssuch as the pump A and allow access to the interior of the boiler.

As will appear on examination of Figure 3, each of the hinge structuresB, B comprises a pair of brackets fixed to the boiler front, a movablesupporting bracket of generally L-form to sustain structures disposed infront of the boiler, and .apivotal eon-nection between the fixed andmovable brackets, the relation bet-Ween the brackets of the hingestructure B being not only pivotal but also sliding Considering firstthe construction, function, and operation of the hinge structure B, itwill he noted that rigidly fixed to the outside surface of the boiler,adjaoent its front end at Spaced apart points are the two bracketsupports, 13:443., Each of these brackets is provided with upper andlower spaced ears, 14, 14-, extending forwardly from the boiler frontfor a substantial distaiice, each being provided with the elongatedopenings, 15, 15 in vertical registration. Passing through theseopenings, 15, 15 for longitudinal iieci-procatjon therein are the pins,16, supported 'f'l'Olgll the uppe 1 14, by the head, 17, and retained inposition against accidental loss by the cotter pins 18, To brace theseears, 14, against distortion, each brack I support, 13, is provided withthe rib member 19 Y The frontend plate 11 is mounted to swingabout thepivotpins 51-6 vas a hinge by means of the hi ge member 2.0, extendingoutwandly beyond the front- .end plate and rig 'dly supported {therefromby the bracket membe 21., 21, cash bracke membe 2i eing provided withtwo hinge members 20. These members 2.0 a-ixiund the pins 16 so as tocause the two to move together longitudinally, the pins being guided isuch movement by the longitudinally extended slot-s 1'5.

By this arrang m nt 1 ha e p ovide a support for the gliront end platefrom the boiler at two points spaced apart which will perm-it the frontend plate being gnoued bodily in a right line .aivay from the boilerfront, and at the same time will mai tai the end plate in a position ofsupport from the boiler.

There is also thus provided :a arrangement whereby after the front endplate it has been moved bodily away .jfirom the boiler front 10 and voutof engagement with the stud bolts 12, the host end plate 11 lan be swungbodily out of the path of t he opening to the boiler front, to permit offree access to the boiler interior, while at (she same time stillretaining the end plate 11 in ,stuipoiited relation to the boiler.

Each of the brackets ,13 is provided with th vertical ,rib 23 withil ithe outlines of the boiler, from which extends the boss 2:}. The rib23and the boss 2%, as well as the web portion 25, of the brace member 19are veach provided with a passage, all being in registry.

The passages through the members 23 and 24 are in registry and receivethe screwt-l-ireaded portion 25 .of the actuating bolt 26 provided Lonits front end with the Circular portion 27,, which engages the pin to,as clearly 'iown inthe drawing. (Fig-ure 8,) The actuating nut- 2-8 iscarried by the {bolt 26 between the web portion :25 of the hinge 19 andthe boss 24,

As ,a result of this arraiiigemont, when the nut 28 is turned to move itagainst either the web or inst the boss 2%, depending upon the diroe ionin which it is turned, sueh member will act as an abutment for the 11.11 28, the continued rotation thereof will cause the bolt to traveleither backwardfly or forwardly, This will ozluse the hinge pin 16 tomove in the same direction, and will, of course, carry with it theclosure member 11.

It will be noticed. that the space between the two embe :2 a d i g eat rthan the -,Width of the put a result, Where it is desired to move theclosure toward or away from the boiile' :front, there will be a freespace PliOzl-"lQlGCl tor the travel of the nut 28 before it reach-es itsabutment at either end, This is ,of considerable i i'iportanue, :as itwill be obvious thiit the nut 28, its Well as the closure member 11, maystick and the force necessary to rotate the nut would haw: to besuflicie-nt to overcome not only the inemtis of the door, but as wellthe sticking tendency of the closure member {11 and the nut 28- Byproviding the aforementioned full space th bugh which the nut is movedbe-t'me the closure member acted on, the two important zesults areattained of having all the force :first applied to overcome the stickingtendency of the nut, and secondly certain momentum is thus acquiredwhich will make the force applied to the nut more jet- K F in itsactuation of the end plate 11.

The .ari'augenient for aging the end plate 11 bodily movement duplicatedupo i each hinge, two of which are shown ia-t points substantiallyspaced tro n one a otheii The action of turning first the nst upon onehinge and then the other will he very similar to that used in whichforce is first applied at one point and then at another ,to pry ,anobject loose.

Considering llBXt the construction, function ind operation of the hingestructure 1%, it will be observed that rigidly fixed to the outersurface of the boiler 10, and closely adjacent to its ilrontend, Iprovide at spaced apart points the vtwo bracket supports 12%:13. Each ofthese brackets is provided with upper and lower spaced ears. lli iliextending laterally from the boiler front for a substantial ,distanoe,each being provided with annular openings l5 in vertical re gistration,

Passing through these openings 15 are the pivot pins 1.6, each supportedfrom the upper ear 16L" by its head 11?, and igetained in positionagainst accidental loss the cotter lftlil pin 18 To brace these cars Illagainst distortion each bracket support 13 is pro vided with a ribmember 19.

The supporting structure C is mounted to swing about the pivot pin 16"as a hinge by means of the hinge niember 2O-20 ex tending laterallybeyond; the supporting structure U and rigidly supported therefrom bymeans of the bracket members ill ill, each bracket member 2i beingprovided with two of the hinge. members 20. These members 20 in both ofthe pivot portions encircle the pins lit so as to permit swingingmovement between the members 20' and let, limited to pivotal movement bymeans of the pin 16.

It will be observed that by virtue of the lateral displacement of thehinge members to the side of the boiler structure in each instance theaxes of the pivot pins 16 and 16 are relatively widely separated fromthe plane in which lies the nearest of the circular row of stud boltsand nuts 12. This, in the instance of pivot pins 16 makes the relativeangular displacement of the front plate openings and stud bolts 12 onlyslight, preventing binding, and in the instance of pins 16, removesthese latter to a point where they cannot interfere with .removal ofadjacent stud bolts.

For additionally supporting and guiding the pins 16, the bracketsupports 1}}Ll are each further provided with ears 213*" positionedintermediate to cars 14F." and provided with vertical openings similarto and. in registry with the openings 15*" in the upper and lower cars14:.

As a result of the arrangement described,

itwill be apparent to those who are skilled in the art that I am enabledto provide by means of my improved attachments and changes that may berelatively easily made in existing structures, a construction which hasall of the ad antages of existing structures with the additionaladvantages due to the employment of such attachments, as hereinabovepointed out.

Reverting now to the exemplitication of the present inventionillustrated in Figures 4; to '7, it will be observed that in mostessential respects the structures here shown are quite analogous tothose hereinabove described, save in certain important particulars whichwill now be pointed out or will ap pear on inspection of the drawings.

The alternative form under consideration is i some ways more compact andsimple in that the pumps D, D are arranged substantially parallel to theface of the front end closure 11, as is possible in certain types oflocomotives where suiliicient space is atforded by prevalent conditionsand where such space will permit this arrangement without interferencewith ready access to the man-hole E.

To attain this objective, the fixed brackets 13", 13 are given amarkedly L-form, whereby the pivotal axes afforded by the pins 10, 16are set to the outside of the boiler, which thus permits lateralplacement of the pumps D, D.

In this type of construction the hinge elements F, F are not required tobe of L- form and while the parts attached to the front end closure 11.are materially widened in order to afford suitable beds for the pumps,they may be suitably skcletonized in order to save weight.

The manifold advantages of the illustrated embodiments of my presentinvention will be readily appreciated by those who are skilled in theart to which it pertains.

Having thus disclosed my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a boiler havingan opening, a closure for saidopening, a mem ber supported in front of and in part only by saidclosure, and means whereby said member may be moved away from saidclosure to permit said closure to be moved.

2. In combination, a boiler having an opening, closure for said opening,a member si'ipported in front of and in'part only by said closure, andpivoted means whereby said member may be moved laterally to permit sa dclosure to be moved.

In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for said opening,pivotally supported in position, a member supported in front of saidclosure spaced from the pivot thereof, and means whereby said member maybe moved to permit said closure to be moved.

l. In combination, a boiler having an opening. a closure for saidopening, pivotally supported in position, a member supported in front ofand in part only by said closure, and pivoted means whereby said membermay be moved to permit said closure to be moved.

5. In combination, a boiler having an opening. a closure for saidopening, pivotally supported in position, a member sup ported in frontof said closure, and means whereby said member may be moved laterally inone direction to permit said closure to be moved laterally about itspivot in another direction.

6. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for saidopening, pivotally supported in position. a member supported in front ofsaid closure, and means whereby said member may be moved laterally inone direction to permit said closure to be moved bodily about its pivotforward and laterally in another direction.

7. In combination, a boiler having an opening. a closure for saidopening, slidably and pivotally supported in position, a membersupported in front of said closure, and means whereby said member may bemoved laterally in one direction to permit said closure. to be movedbodily forward and laterally in another direction.

8. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for saidopening, means for supporting said closure for sliding movement,cooperating means for supporting said closure for pivotal movement.arranged adjacent to one side of the boiler, a member in front of saidclosure, and means for supporting said member for pivotal movementarranged adjacent to the opposite Side of the boiler.

9'. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for saidopening, means for supporting said closure for pivotal,

movement arranged adjacent to one side of the boiler, a memberdetachably supported by said closure, and means for supporting saidmember for pivotal movement arranged adjacent to the opposite side ofthe boiler.

10. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for saidopening, means for supporting said closure for sliding move ment,cooperating means for supporting said closure forpivotal movementarranged. adjacent to one side of the boiler. a member detachablysupported by and in front of said closure, and means for supporting saidmember for pivotal movement arranged adjacent to the opposite side ofthe boiler.

11. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for saidopening, a member supported in front of said closure, and a, hingestructure for said'closure serving as a bed for saidmember.

12. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for saidopening, a membersupported in front of said closure, and a hingestructurefor said closure having a forwardly projecting part serving asa bed for said member.

13. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for saidopening, a member supported in front of said closure, and a hingestructure for said closure having a generally L-form, one face thereofbeing attached to said closure and another face thereof serving as a bedfor said member.

14. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for saidopening, a member supported in front of said closure, and a hingestructure for said closure serving as a bed for said member, said hingestructure being adapted to permit both bodily and pivotal movement ofsaid closure relatively to the boiler.

15. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for saidopening, a member supported in front of said closure, and ahingestructure for said closure having a forwardly projecting part serving asa bed for said member, said hinge structure being adapted to permit bothbodily'and pivotal movement of said closure relatively to the boiler. I

16. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for saidopening, a member supported in front of said closure, and. a hingestructure for said closure having a generally L-form, one face thereofbeing attached to said closure and another face thereof serving as a bedfor said member, said hinge structure being adapted to permit bothbodily and pivotal movement of said closure relatively to the boiler.

17. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a. closure for saidopening, a plurality of members supported in front of said closure, anda pair of hinge structures arranged on opposite sides of thebo-iler,'one hinge structure serving as a support for said closu e andone of said members and the other hinge structure serving as a supportfor another of said members.

18. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for said.opening, a plurality of members supported in front of said closure, anda pair of hinge structures arranged on opposite sides of the boiler,each having a forwardy projecting part, one hingestructure serving as asupport for said closure and one of said members and the other hingestructure serving as a support for another of said members, the saidmembers sustained by said forwardly proecting parts. I

19. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure forsaid-opening, a plurality of members supported in front of said closure,and a pair of hinge structures of generally L-form arranged on oppositesides of the boiler, one hinge structure serving as a support for saidclosure and one of said members and the other hinge structure serv- Ying as a support for another of said members.

20. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for saidopening, a plurality of members supported in front of said closure, anda pair of hinge structures arranged on opposite sides of the boiler, onehinge structure serving as a support for said closure and one of saidmembers and the other hinge structure serving as a support for anotherof said members, the first mentioned hinge structure being adapted topermit both bodily and pivotal movement of said closure relatively tothe boiler.

21. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for saidopening, a plurality of members supported in front of said closure, anda pair of hinge structures arranged on opposite sides of the boiler, onehinge structure serving as a support for said closure and one of saidmembers and the other hinge structure serving as a support for anotherof said members, and said last mentioned hinge structure beingde-t-achably secured to and supported by said closure.

22. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closurefor saidopening, a plurality of members supported in front of said closure, anda pair of hinge structures arranged on opposite sides of the boiler,each having a forwardly projecting part, one hinge structure serving asa support for said closure and one of said members and the other hingestructure serving as a support for another of said members, the saidmembers sustained by said forwardly projecting parts, and said lastmentioned hinge structure being detachably secured to and supported bysaid closure.

23. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a. closure for saidopening, a plurality of members supported in front of said closure, anda pair of hinge structures of generally L-form arranged on oppositesides of theboiler, one hinge structure serving as a support for saidclosure and one of said members and the other hinge structure serving asa support for another of said menr bers, and said last mentioned hingestruc ture being detachably secured to and supported by said closure.

24. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for saidopening, a plurality of members supported in front of said closure, anda pair of hinge structures arranged. on opposite sides of the boiler,one hinge structure serving as a support for said closure and one ofsaid members and the other hinge structure serving as a support foranother of said members, and said last mentioned hinge structure beingdetach-ably secured to and supported by said closure.

25. In combination, a boiler having an opening, a closure for saidopening, a plurality of members supported in front of said closure, anda pair of hinge structures arranged on opposite sides of the boiler, onehinge structure serving as a support for said closure and one of saidmembers and the other hinge structure serving as a support for anotherof said members, and said last mentioned hinge structure beingdetachably secured to and supported by said closure, and said closurebeing detachably fixed to and supported by said boiler.

26. In a device of the character described,

in combination, a container having an opening, a closure for saidopening, means for pivotally mounting said closure at one side of saidopening, an auxiliary supporting structure carried by said closureadjacent said means and movable with the closure, and an additionalsupporting structure pivotally mounted on the container at the oppositeside thereof.

27. In a device of the character described, in combination, a containerhaving an opening, a closure for said opening, means for pivotallymounting said closure at one side of said opening, an auxiliarysupporting structure carried by said closure adjacent said means andmovable with the closure, an additional supporting structure pivotallymounted on the container at the opposite side thereof, and means forfixing the last named supporting structure to said closure.

28. In a device of the character described, in combination, a containerhaving an opening, a closure for said opening, means for pivotally andslidably mounting said closure at one side of said opening, an auxiliarysup porting structure carried by said closure adjacent said means andmovable with the closure, and an additional supporting structurepivotally mounted on the container at the opposite side thereof.

29. In a locomotive boiler having an opening, in combination, a closureplate for said opening, a supporting structure adjacent to one side ofsaid closure plate, a hinge for pivotally supporting the closure plateon the boiler, said supporting structure being mounted on the boiler toswing out of the path of said closure plate when the latter is movedabout its pivot.

30. In a locomotive boiler having an opening, in combination, a closureplate for said opening, a plurality of supporting structures within theoutlines of the boiler adjacent to opposite sides thereof and to saidclosure plate, a hinge for pivotally supporting the closure plate on theboiler, one of said sup porting structures being mounted on the boilerto swing laterally out of the path of said closure plate when the latteris moved about its pivot.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

HARRY VISSERING.

